OfflineHi DG family,
Back in September I had an ad running in CL and I had a Realtor (broker) email me. I told her that that property was no longer available. She then asked me for the address, which I never gave her. She then emailed me three days later asking if I was Josh from Florida. I said Yes and she found out that I have a RE license in the state of Florida. She then threatened me with reporting me to DBPR (department of regulations) for placing a blind (ghost) ad.
Fast forward to today 02/15/2012... I got a call and email from DBPR, for me to call them about a complaint placed on me!!!!!!!
What should I tell them? Any licensed RE out there gone through this?
Thanks,
Josh
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I am not a lawyer or a realtor but I have a couple of thoughts:
Is your license currently active? If it is not, that should be in your favor as well as your defense.
If it is, you should contact your attorney and verify that you actually broke some rules. I would think that since you did not take business away from this agent by selling a client a house from your ad, her argument might be a little thin.
Another option, provide the DBPR with the address to your house (if it matches your ad) or a family member's house that matched your ad and give that address to them as the address you were advertising. Since you did not give an address to the agent at the time, how would they know this wasn't the house you advertised?
Now, I'm not saying that this is something I would do all the time since you will probably have a file put on a watch list but it might be a way to get out from under this (from your standpoint) with a "No harm, No foul" scenario.
My Mom was an RE Agent so I've seen some of the crap agents do. Some are just real A-holes. This I know to be true!
Good luck,
Andy Sager
DG's AndyS
Andy Sager
DG's AndyS
CFIC & IE member
2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 EDGE Alumni
I was going to tell them that my partner changed their mind and wanted to try and rent out the property. And my lic. Is current/inactive at the moment.
You may still want to contact your attorney first to see if it's being current plays a role even if it's inactive.
When you have these kinds of situations, if you know the laws and the rules before hand, you can better proceed.
I've recently recounted an entrapment situation I had many years ago. I went to court KNOWING I was in the right and was in the offensive mode instead of defensive because I knew the whole situation was just wrong and had no legal basis to happen. I was amazed how the judge ripped the officer a new one in front of everybody in the court. That's the power when you know you're right.
Agents/ brokers assume they know everything and you know nothing. Prove them wrong!!!
Good luck!
Andy Sager
DG's AndyS
Andy Sager
DG's AndyS
CFIC & IE member
2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016 EDGE Alumni